State guide

Public land that may allow hunting in West Virginia

132 named public land units in West Virginia from PAD-US 4.1: 103 state wildlife & game areas, 11 forests & grasslands, 2 wildlife refuges & WPAs, 14 lake & reservoir project lands, 2 other public land units. The largest are Monongahela National Forest, George Washington National Forest, Wardensville Wildlife Management Area.

132listed areas
1.8Macres (approx.)
103state wildlife & game areas

2026 deer season opening dates by state. For West Virginia, check the agency link below.

Regulations & licenses: West Virginia Division of Natural Resources

This site does not list seasons, bag limits, license or permit rules. Those change every year and differ by area. Check them with the state agency before you go, and confirm the specific area is open to the hunting you plan.

Check regulations with West Virginia Division of Natural Resources

Where the listed areas are

State wildlife & game areas (103)Forests & grasslands (11)Wildlife refuges & WPAs (2)Lake & reservoir project land (14)Other public land (2)

One dot per area at its reference point; larger dots are larger areas. Outline: U.S. Census Bureau.

Acres by land type

Approximate acres for the portion of each unit inside West Virginia.

Photos from West Virginia public lands

All photo credits

National Forest land
Monongahela National Forest
922,191 acres
Photo: Monongahela National Forest from Elkins, WV, United States · public domain · original source
National Forest land
Jefferson National Forest
19,455 acres
Photo: US Forest Service - Southern Region · public domain · original source

Public-domain photos by U.S. federal agencies, taken in the place named on each card.

All 132 areas, largest first

Land type Manager PAD-US access Minimum size

National Forest land
Monongahela National Forest
922,191 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Pocahontas County, Randolph County + 7 more
Open access
National Forest land
George Washington National Forest
106,585 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Hardy County, Pendleton County + 1 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Wardensville Wildlife Management Area
54,993 acres
State: department of natural resources · Hardy County, Hampshire County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Shenandoah Wildlife Management Area
50,715 acres
State: department of natural resources · Pendleton County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Tomblin Wildlife Management Area
25,206 acres
State: department of natural resources · Logan County, Mingo County
Open access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
East Lynn Recreation Area
24,844 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Wayne County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
East Lynn Lake Wildlife Management Area
24,801 acres
Joint management · Wayne County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area
22,217 acres
State: department of natural resources · Berkeley County, Morgan County
Open access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
Bluestone Recreation Area
22,112 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Summers County, Monroe County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Elk River Wildlife Management Area
19,836 acres
Joint management · Braxton County
Mixed (open and restricted parcels)
National Forest land
Jefferson National Forest
19,455 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Monroe County
Open access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
R.D. Bailey Recreation Area
19,152 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Wyoming County, Mingo County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Potts Creek Wildlife Management Area
18,459 acres
State: department of natural resources · Monroe County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Stonewall Jackson Lake Wildlife Management Area
18,385 acres
Joint management · Lewis County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Bluestone Lake Wildlife Management Area
17,924 acres
Joint management · Summers County, Monroe County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
R.D. Bailey Lake Wildlife Management Area
17,824 acres
Joint management · Wyoming County, Mingo County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge
17,029 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Tucker County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Lewis Wetzel Wildlife Management Area
13,459 acres
State: department of natural resources · Wetzel County, Tyler County
Open access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
Burnsville Recreation Area
13,265 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Braxton County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Burnsville Lake Wildlife Management Area
13,257 acres
Joint management · Braxton County
Open access
State forest
Coopers Rock State Forest
13,055 acres
State: department of natural resources · Monongalia County, Preston County
Open access
State forest
Seneca State Forest
12,842 acres
State: department of natural resources · Pocahontas County
Open access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
Sutton Recreation Area
12,652 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Braxton County, Webster County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Laurel Lake Wildlife Management Area
12,600 acres
State: department of natural resources · Mingo County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Wallback Wildlife Management Area
12,530 acres
State: department of natural resources · Clay County, Roane County + 1 more
Open access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
Beech Fork Recreation Area
12,461 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Wayne County, Cabell County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Chief Cornstalk Wildlife Management Area
11,713 acres
State: department of natural resources · Mason County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Panther Wildlife Management Area
11,538 acres
State: department of natural resources · McDowell County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Nathaniel Mountain Wildlife Management Area
11,120 acres
State: department of natural resources · Hampshire County, Hardy County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Beury Mountain Wildlife Management Area
10,695 acres
State: department of natural resources · Fayette County
Open access
State forest
Calvin Price State Forest
10,138 acres
State: department of natural resources · Pocahontas County, Greenbrier County
Open access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
Summersville Recreation Area
9,794 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Nicholas County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Beech Fork Lake Wildlife Management Area
9,422 acres
Joint management · Wayne County, Cabell County
Open access
State forest
Kanawha State Forest
9,359 acres
State: department of natural resources · Kanawha County
Open access
State forest
Kumbrabow State Forest
9,150 acres
State: department of natural resources · Randolph County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Morris Creek Wildlife Management Area
8,852 acres
State: department of natural resources · Kanawha County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Little Kanawha River Wildlife Management Area
8,368 acres
State: department of natural resources · Wirt County, Calhoun County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Short Mountain Wildlife Management Area
8,267 acres
State: department of natural resources · Hampshire County
Open access
State forest
Cabwaylingo State Forest
8,179 acres
State: department of natural resources · Wayne County
Open access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
Jennings Randolph Recreation Area
8,116 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Mineral County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Amherst/Plymouth Wildlife Management Area
7,552 acres
State: department of natural resources · Putnam County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Allegheny Wildlife Management Area
7,033 acres
State: department of natural resources · Mineral County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Tug Fork Wildlife Management Area
6,779 acres
State: department of natural resources · McDowell County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Ritchie Mines Wildlife Management Area
6,747 acres
State: department of natural resources · Ritchie County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Hughes River Wildlife Management Area
6,617 acres
State: department of natural resources · Ritchie County, Wirt County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Summersville Lake Wildlife Management Area
6,193 acres
Joint management · Nicholas County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Big Ugly Wildlife Management Area
5,535 acres
State: department of natural resources · Lincoln County
Mixed (open and restricted parcels)
State forest
Camp Creek State Forest
5,320 acres
State: department of natural resources · Mercer County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Big South Wildlife Management Area
5,195 acres
State: department of natural resources · Mingo County, Logan County
Open access
National Recreation Area
Gauley River National Recreation Area
5,085 acres
National Park Service · Nicholas County, Fayette County
Open access
State forest
Greenbrier State Forest
4,838 acres
State: department of natural resources · Greenbrier County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Cheat Canyon Wildlife Management Area
3,810 acres
State: department of natural resources · Preston County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Frozen Camp Wildlife Management Area
3,752 acres
State: department of natural resources · Jackson County, Roane County
Open access
Other state land
Daniels Ridge Wilidlife Management Area
3,394 acres
State: department of natural resources · Monroe County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
McClintic Wildlife Management Area
3,391 acres
State: department of natural resources · Mason County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Cecil H. Underwood Wildlife Management Area
3,372 acres
State: department of natural resources · Marshall County, Wetzel County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Plum Orchard Lake Wildlife Management Area
3,259 acres
State: department of natural resources · Fayette County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Walker Creek Wildlife Management Area
3,220 acres
State: department of natural resources · Wood County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Stonecoal Lake Wildlife Management Area
3,094 acres
State: department of natural resources · Lewis County, Upshur County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Little Canaan Wildlife Management Area
3,075 acres
State: department of natural resources · Tucker County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Snake Hill Wildlife Management Area
2,941 acres
State: department of natural resources · Monongalia County, Preston County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Huttonsville State Farm Wildlife Management Area
2,803 acres
State: department of natural resources · Randolph County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Pleasant Creek Wildlife Management Area
2,779 acres
Joint management · Taylor County, Barbour County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge
2,661 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Wood County, Pleasants County + 5 more
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Meadow River Wildlife Management Area
2,643 acres
State: department of natural resources · Greenbrier County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Sideling Hill Wildlife Management Area
2,425 acres
State: department of natural resources · Morgan County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Sandy Creek Wildlife Management Area
2,422 acres
State: department of natural resources · Jackson County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Burning Springs Wildlife Management Area
2,217 acres
State: department of natural resources · Wirt County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Hillcrest Wildlife Management Area
2,203 acres
State: department of natural resources · Hancock County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
The Jug Wildlife Management Area
2,098 acres
State: department of natural resources · Tyler County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Lynn Camp Wildlife Management Area
2,021 acres
State: department of natural resources · Wirt County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Cross Creek Wildlife Management Area
2,006 acres
State: department of natural resources · Brooke County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Sand Hill Wildlife Management Area
1,908 acres
State: department of natural resources · Ritchie County, Pleasants County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Becky Creek Wildlife Management Area
1,901 acres
State: department of natural resources · Randolph County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Anawalt Lake Wildlife Management Area
1,801 acres
State: department of natural resources · McDowell County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Stumptown Wildlife Management Area
1,788 acres
State: department of natural resources · Gilmer County, Calhoun County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
White Horse Mountain Wildlife Management Area
1,784 acres
State: department of natural resources · Hampshire County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Woodrum Lake Wildlife Management Area
1,662 acres
State: department of natural resources · Jackson County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Shannondale Springs Wildlife Management Area
1,648 acres
State: department of natural resources · Jefferson County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Pruntytown State Farm Wildlife Management Area
1,607 acres
State: department of natural resources · Taylor County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Mill Creek Wildlife Management Area
1,475 acres
State: department of natural resources · Cabell County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Upper Mud River Wildlife Management Area
1,438 acres
State: department of natural resources · Lincoln County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Elk Fork Lake Wildlife Management Area
1,419 acres
State: department of natural resources · Jackson County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
South Branch Wildlife Management Area
1,304 acres
State: department of natural resources · Hardy County, Hampshire County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Dents Run Wildlife Management Area
1,265 acres
State: department of natural resources · Marion County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Briery Mountain Wildlife Management Area
1,253 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Preston County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Federal Ridge Wildlife Management Area
1,141 acres
State: department of natural resources · Pleasants County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Green Bottom Wildlife Management Area
1,096 acres
Joint management · Cabell County, Mason County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
O'Brien Lake Wildlife Management Area
1,071 acres
State: department of natural resources · Jackson County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Tate Lohr Wildlife Management Area
1,049 acres
State: department of natural resources · Mercer County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Little Indian Creek Wildlife Management Area
1,038 acres
State: department of natural resources · Monongalia County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Center Branch Wildlife Management Area
949 acres
State: department of natural resources · Harrison County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Toll Gate Wildlife Management Area
938 acres
State: department of natural resources · Ritchie County, Doddridge County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Castlemans Run Lake Wildlife Management Area
847 acres
State: department of natural resources · Brooke County, Ohio County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Moncove Lake Wildlife Management Area
795 acres
State: department of natural resources · Monroe County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Handley Wildlife Management Area
773 acres
State: department of natural resources · Pocahontas County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Pedlar Wildlife Management Area
770 acres
State: department of natural resources · Monongalia County
Open access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
Byrd Pool Recreation Area
682 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Mason County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Thorn Creek Wildlife Management Area
663 acres
State: department of natural resources · Pendleton County
Mixed (open and restricted parcels)
State wildlife / game area
Conaway Run Lake Wildlife Management Area
638 acres
State: department of natural resources · Tyler County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Fairfax Pond / Rehe Wildlife Management Area
629 acres
State: department of natural resources · Preston County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Andrew Rowan Wildlife Management Area
622 acres
State: department of natural resources · Monroe County
Mixed (open and restricted parcels)
State wildlife / game area
McCausland Wildlife Management Area
606 acres
State: department of natural resources · Mason County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Dunkard Fork Wildlife Management Area
472 acres
State: department of natural resources · Marshall County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Widmeyer Wildlife Management Area
430 acres
State: department of natural resources · Morgan County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Cove Creek Wildlife Management Area
411 acres
Not recorded · Monroe County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Hilbert Wildlife Management Area
386 acres
State: department of natural resources · Lincoln County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Edwards Run Wildlife Management Area
381 acres
State: department of natural resources · Hampshire County
Open access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
Winfield Pool Recreation Area
369 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Putnam County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Big Ditch Wildlife Management Area
357 acres
State: department of natural resources · Webster County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Chief Logan Wildlife Management Area
333 acres
State: department of natural resources · Logan County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
West Virginia Wildlife Center
328 acres
State: department of natural resources · Upshur County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Smoke Camp Wildlife Management Area
280 acres
State: department of natural resources · Lewis County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Bear Rock Lakes Wildlife Management Area
237 acres
State: department of natural resources · Ohio County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Fort Mill Ridge Wildlife Management Area
234 acres
State: department of natural resources · Hampshire County
Open access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
Belleville Pools Recreation Area
220 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Wood County
Open access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
Willow Island Pool Recreation Area
189 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Pleasants County
Open access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
Marmet Pool Recreation Area
161 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Kanawha County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Teter Creek Lake Wildlife Management Area
145 acres
State: department of natural resources · Barbour County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Spring Run Wildlife Management Area
143 acres
State: department of natural resources · Grant County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Buffalo Run Wildlife Management Area
135 acres
State: department of natural resources · Tyler County
Open access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
Racine Pool Recreation Area
128 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Mason County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Fox Forest Wildlife Management Area
124 acres
State: department of natural resources · Randolph County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Warden Lake Wildlife Management Area
115 acres
State: department of natural resources · Hardy County, Hampshire County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Berwind Lake Wildlife Management Area
94 acres
State: department of natural resources · McDowell County
Mixed (open and restricted parcels)
State wildlife / game area
Rollins Lake Wildlife Management Area
73 acres
State: department of natural resources · Jackson County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Turkey Run Lake Wildlife Management Area
71 acres
State: department of natural resources · Jackson County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Slatyfork Wildlife Management Area
64 acres
State: department of natural resources · Pocahontas County, Randolph County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Upper Deckers Creek Wildlife Management Area
56 acres
State: department of natural resources · Preston County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Lost River Wildlife Management Area
51 acres
State: department of natural resources · Hardy County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Horse Creek Wildlife Management Area
50 acres
State: department of natural resources · Wyoming County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Burches Run Wildlife Management Area
41 acres
State: department of natural resources · Marshall County
Open access

Acreage is calculated from simplified PAD-US boundaries for the portion inside West Virginia. “Access” is the PAD-US public access field, not a statement about hunting. National wildlife refuges are generally coded “restricted” in PAD-US because of seasonal or area closures.